Generate Flashcards

Create flashcards from lesson files or topic titles, focusing on essential terminology and vocabulary required for understanding and retention.

Workflow

1. Identify input: lesson file path OR topic title
2. If lesson file provided, read and extract key terminology
3. Identify core concepts that require memorization
4. Generate Q&A flashcard pairs
5. Save to /flashcard/ directory

Flashcard Categories

Extract terminology across these categories:

Definitions

• Key terms and their meanings
• Technical vocabulary
• Domain-specific concepts

Acronyms & Abbreviations

• Spell out full forms
• Explain what each represents

Relationships

• How concepts connect
• Cause and effect pairs
• Comparisons (X vs Y)

Core Facts

• Essential facts that must be memorized
• Foundational principles
• Key formulas or rules

Flashcard Format

Use this Q&A format (one per line, alternating):

Q: [Question about the term/concept]
A: [Concise, accurate answer]

Q: [Next question]
A: [Next answer]

Question Types

Quality Guidelines

Good Flashcards

• One concept per card
• Question is specific and unambiguous
• Answer is concise (1-2 sentences max)
• Tests recall, not recognition
• Uses precise terminology

Avoid

• Multiple concepts in one card
• Vague or overly broad questions
• Lengthy paragraph answers
• Yes/no questions
• Questions with obvious answers

Output Template

# [Topic] - Flashcards

## Core Terminology

Q: [Term definition question]
A: [Definition]

Q: [Next term]
A: [Definition]

## Key Concepts

Q: [Concept question]
A: [Explanation]

## Relationships & Comparisons

Q: [Comparison question]
A: [Distinction]

---
Source: [lesson file or topic]
Card count: [number]

Naming Convention

Priority: Use source filename for traceability

Rules:

• When file path provided: Extract filename (minus extension), append -flashcards
• When topic provided: Convert to lowercase with hyphens, append -flashcards
• This ensures clear mapping: lessons/X.md → flashcard/X-flashcards.md

Example Output

Example 1 - From file: Input: lessons/lesson1.md Output: /flashcard/lesson1-flashcards.md

Example 2 - From topic: Input: "REST APIs" Output: /flashcard/rest-apis-flashcards.md

# REST APIs - Flashcards

## Core Terminology

Q: What is REST?
A: Representational State Transfer - an architectural style for designing networked applications using HTTP protocols.

Q: What is an API endpoint?
A: A URL where API resources can be accessed.

Q: What does "stateless" mean in REST?
A: Each request is independent and contains all information needed; the server doesn't store client state between requests.

## Key Concepts

Q: What are the four main HTTP methods in REST?
A: GET (retrieve), POST (create), PUT (update), DELETE (remove).

Q: What is a resource in REST?
A: Any data entity that can be accessed and manipulated through the API.

## Relationships & Comparisons

Q: What is the difference between PUT and PATCH?
A: PUT replaces the entire resource; PATCH updates only specific fields.

---
Source: lessons/rest-api.md
Card count: 6

Checklist

Before completing flashcards:

• All key terms from source material included
• One concept per card
• Answers are concise and accurate
• Questions test recall (not recognition)
• Saved to /flashcard/ directory
• Card count noted at bottom